However, getting turned over in front of your own fans is another matter – especially when the team doesn’t even seem to be competing properly.

At times last season games were all over bar the shouting long before the final whistle, as the likes of Tottenham and Man United chalked up 4-0 wins at St James’ Park, and Everton left Toon with a 3-0 victory.

Home defeats to Swansea, Sunderland and newly-promoted Hull City also didn’t go down well.

The poor form in many fans’ view was down to the depature of Yohan Cabaye who left for Paris St-Germain for £19m and wasn’t replaced.

Here we look at six high-profile departures under Pardew’s watch and whether they were the right decision.

ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images

Yohan Cabaye

The sale to the Ligue 1 club deflated the dressing room and the Magpies won just four from 16 games after he had gone.

He wasn’t replaced in January and the club are crying out for a creative force. Had Cabaye stayed the club could have kicked on again and delivered European football. To do that though, they would have had to show Cabaye they meant business.

Asking the player who he wanted to see in the team would have perhaps produced a positive response from Cabaye.

However, Newcastle are still suffering from the sale of Cabaye and should Mathieu Debuchy end up leaving on the back of his January exit, there could be more bad news around the corner for Toon fans.

Verdict: Bad move all round.

Jose Enrique

Jose Enrique in action for Newcastle United

Reason sold: Wanted to play for a team in the top five

The Spaniard was unhappy for a long time on Tyneside before being sold to Liverpool. Enrique felt there was a lack of ambition at the club and strived for a club in the top five.

Ironically, the Magpies managed to end the 2011/12 season in fifth while Enrique ended the campaign in eighth!

He did, however, pick up a League Cup winners’ medal, which may have vindicated his decision.

Newcastle picked up £6m for Enrique who left under a cloud after a series of wild Tweets slating the club for lack of ambition. Enrique spent last season out injured and, while Newcastle fans appreciated him during his time at the club, with Massadio Haidara, Paul Dummett and Davide Santon all fighting it out for the left-back slot, this area isn’t a priority.

Verdict: Right decision.

Demba Ba

Action Images

Newcastle United's Demba Ba

Reason sold: Clause in contract activated.

Newcastle were perhaps too hasty in inserting a release clause in Ba’s contract when he joined the club as an out-of-contract player in the summer of 2011.

He was an instant success on Tyneside and banged in 29 goals in 51 appearances for the Magpies. Ba’s knee condition was once described as a “ticking time bomb” by Stoke boss Tony Pulis who opted out of signing him.

But Chelsea were keen to take him to Stamford Bridge. Ba may not be a regular in the Chelsea team but has still bagged 17 goals and scored in the Prem, the Champions League and FA Cup.

With the benefit of hindsight Newcastle should have acted quicker to get Ba’s release clause out of his agreement, or shown more faith at the start of the deal. In the end they lost a good player and picked up a nominal fee for a proven goal-getter.

Verdict: Giving him an escape clause never seemed like a good idea.

Joey Barton

Joey Barton

Reason moved on: Alleged dressing-room bust-up.

It was after a pre-season friendly at Leeds that Joey Barton stormed out of Elland Road looking flustered. Requests for an interview were knocked back with Barton stating: “It’ll cause a riot if I say something” before he promptly Tweeted his fury at the way he felt United were being ran.

There’s no doubt that Barton could have adapted to the style of play at United alongside the French legion, with the likes of Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye.

But was there a clash of personalities early on?

Certainly something was amiss that day in the dressing room. Barton was promptly moved on by United and signed for QPR.

When asked on the departures of Barton and Nolan in 2012, Pardew said: “There was a different mentality on the training ground that I wanted to bring to the football club.

“Players come and go – but the mentality must stay the same. I would like to think I’m fair with players, though. I can still look all the players in the eye and say that I was fair.”

Verdict: Barton could have fitted in with the French stars at United but his temper got the better of him.

Andy Carroll

Andy Carroll in action for Newcastle United

Reason sold: United were made an offer they couldn’t refuse by Liverpool

Selling your local hero and the wearer of the No 9 shirt isn’t always a greatest of ideas - even for £35m.

The decision didn’t go down well with the United faithful and was made worse still by Alan Pardew continually saying he wouldn’t be sold in the days that led to his departure.

Now that the dust has settled, injuries have plagued Carroll’s career and he was moved on by Liverpool in a cut-price deal. Newcastle may not have missed out on much since he was sold.

The money has hardly been ploughed back through the team since and, while many would like to see Carroll return to the club, his form has dipped dramatically since his Newcastle days.

Based on what has happened since Carroll was whisked out of Toon in Mike Ashley’s chopper, there aren’t too many regrets from the Toon Army.

Verdict: Would have been good business if Newcastle had reinvested the money with a marquee signing.

Kevin Nolan

Kevin Nolan celebrates scoring for Newcastle United in October 2010

Reason sold: Failure to agree a long-term contract

IF Nolan had his way he would be three years into a five-year contract and ending his top-flight career on Tyneside. The Scouser loved his time at St James’ Park, but Newcastle didn’t feel he was worth a long-term deal.

Without Nolan’s leadership and goal threat, the Magpies finished in fifth place while Nolan helped West Ham to play-off glory in the Championship. He’s banged in 17 goals since the Hammers were promoted again with West Ham surviving two seasons since promotion.

Nolan has had his critics from the West Ham faithful, but remains a wholehearted player.

Pardew explained on his exit why Nolan hadn’t been offered a new deal He said: “In four or five years’ time Kevin needs to be doing the business in the first team and we couldn’t – and I couldn’t – see that possibly happening here at Newcastle so we had a decision to make. Kevin didn’t want to stay, that’s the end of the debate. Kevin couldn’t get a contract for four or five years.”

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